High School Girls Are Complex Again, Huzzah

I didn’t know Prime was remaking Carrie as a miniseries.

That is, maybe I read a headline about it somewhere or other, but first of all, we all know a headline like ‘Amazon Prime to adapt Stephen King’s Carrie’ happens five times a day. Sometimes, something awesome comes out of an acquisition like this, sometimes it’s something mundane, and, more and more often these days, nothing happens at all, and some wizened Internet Auntie reminds us that  ‘development hell’ is still a term for a reason.

But secondly, and more importantly – I didn’t know the most important word in my first sentence was ‘remaking’. Because not only is this Carrie an 8-part miniseries… its’ also modernised. Look:

Okay, what was the first thing you noticed?

Because for me, it wasn’t the phones or the fact that everyone looks about a generation younger than the Sissy Spacek-era Carrie. It was the fact that in almost every shot we see, Carrie is smiling.  Beaming, even.  Which, once I thought about it, made that last haunting tagline seem much more relevant…

“All I ever wanted was to go to school”

I’m fascinated by all the places this could go. Is Carrie an unsung academic waiting to happen? How do her (still evidently present) telekinetic powers converge with the FindMyFriends feature on smartphones?  Is it possible she actually does become prom queen, full stop? For the record, series creator Mike Flanagan said “We’re getting there a completely different way and the events of that prom are going to be completely different... That’s a wonderfully delicious and irresistible opportunity for someone who loves adapting things.”

I’ve never cared much for horror, but Carrie was always an exception because everyone knows that was actually just a not-at-all exaggerated story about high school. I’m thrilled that there’s once again interest in shows about teenagers, because teenagers are people, and Young Adult, or it’s preposterously-named cousin, ‘New Adult’, is a popular genre not because everyone’s so beautiful, but because it’s about an age group where people are less afraid to take risks – which makes for good, juicy storytelling.  Which brings us all the way back, in a roundabout way, to thanking Stephen King – after all, there’s a reason “getting Carrie’d” is a staple verb in just about every teen show writing room.

On the polar opposite end of the YA spectrum, as far from Carrie’s muted tones and depression-filter as you can get, I am so excited to dive into Crew Girl which drops today on Netflix. Who’s coming with? 

I snuck just a bit of the first episode this morning (since I am, after all, meant to be writing.) What got me excited immediately wasn’t just the Dawson’s-esque sun-kissed faces or the almost instant forward motion of the plot – it was the determination in the face and voice of show protagonist Teagan Tao. She wants something and has to have it, and we know she’ll work against whatever the show throws at her to get it. 

I am always here for more complicated, imperfect characters, the messier the better. But I’ve been a little dismayed at how often complicated TV characters are roasted in the comments for being selfish or confused or not fair to the two poles of their love triangle… and yes, I am talking about the comments of the subreddit you think I am. Yeesh.  Somehow, part of what’s been lost in our societal lack of media literacy is the idea that fictional characters often make imperfect choices on purpose. Almost like that’s what makes the drama go in the first place.  

But Gen Z audiences seem marginally more accepting of flaws in young people, so bring on the YA shows. If this keeps up, we’ll have a wealth characters who care about things, fictional characters who look and talk and react like people in our real lives, and – I know I’m getting ahead of myself here – maybegain some empathy for other people in our lives.

No, you’re too grandiose about teen TV!

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What else happened today...

Heather is decidedly NOT into Julia Garner’s ELLE Cover. Meanwhile, I’m realizing I have no idea how old Julia Garner is now or has ever been. 21? 35? 48? I’d literally believe any.  (Go Fug Yourself)

The hype about Practical Magic 2 has been so much fun because… I’ve never seen the first one! I know, I don’t get it either. Tips on best viewing practices are welcome (Pajiba)

Emma Stone is as hyped about the Elizabeth Holmes doc as the rest of us (Celebitchy)

I am so deeply here for Gillian Anderson's second career as sex conversationalist, which is a term I made up. (The Cut) 

The updated A Different World cannot hit my algorithm soon enough (Entertainment Weekly)